Water-distributing system.



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a M d Q N 0 R T s fin A pm 7 5 4 6 0 N WATER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.Application filed May 16, 1899.,

(No Model.)

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344044460 z/Fnerll 81570119 UNITED STATES PATENT i' FFICE.

ABNER D. STRONG, or AsnTABnLA, OHIO.

WATER-DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 645,876, dated March20, 1900.

Application file 1 May16,18 99. smart. 717,062. on model.)

This invention relates to a system for 'raising water from a well,spring, cistern, or other reservoir and supplying itto a-service-pipeunder pressure for distribution, said system being automatic inaction'and maintaining a practically-uniform pressurewithintheservice-pipe under all conditions. i

For afull'understanding of the merits, advantages, and details ofconstruction of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawing, which shows a Waterdistribution system embodying the vitalfeatures of the invention. It is not necessary that the parts bearranged in the manner disclosed 0r-that any particular make ofaircompressing device or water raising and forcing means be employed.Hence within the purview of the invention various changes in the form,proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

The air-compressor 1 may be an air-pump of ordinary construction to beoperated either by hand or power, and its purpose is to charge thereservoir 2 with air under pressure, the pipe 3,connecting theair-compressor with the reservoir, being provided with a check-valve 4,opening toward the reservoir and closing toward the air-compressor, soas to prevent escape of air from the reservoir when the pump orcompressor 1 is not in action.

The pump 5, for raising the Water from the spring, well, cistern,'orother reservoir and supplying it to the service pipe 6, may be of anytype commonly used in connection with windmills or water-raisingapparatus. This pump is constructed to be operated by means of thecompressed air stored in the reservoir 2. The service-pipe 6 is providedat required points in its length with faucets 7 or like move in inversedirections. fulcrumed upon a standard 16, rising from means for drawingoff the water when required and at desired places. An air-chamber 8islocated at the highest point of the service-pipe, and the aircontained therein is normally compressed by the pressure of the water inthe service-pipe, thereby providing a sufficient head to enable acontinuous and uninterrupted fiow through any one of the faucets whenopen. i

. A chamber 9 is in-communication with the reservoir 2 by means of ap-ipe 10,in which is located an upwardly-opening valve 11, and anotherpipe 12 connects the chamber 9 with the pump 5. A plunger 13 operates ina cylinder114,,a pplied to a side of the chamber 9, and is of largerarea than the valve 11.

The stems of the valve 11 and plunger 13 are connected to a lever 15upon opposite sides of its fulcrum, whereby the parts 11 and 13 Thelever 15 is the chamber 9, and its long arm is graduated and receivesaweight 17, which is adj ustable thereon. 1

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The reservoir 2 is charged with air under pressure .by means of the airpump or compressor 1, the degree of pressure being determined by meansof a gage 18, of any make, applied thereto. As the reservoir 2 ischarging the check-valve 4 opens, so as to permit the air passing freelytherein, and after the air-compressor ceases operation the check valvecloses, thereby preventing the escape of the stored air which is themotive agent for operating the pump 5 for lifting and supplying thewater to the service-pipe. The air under pressure passes from thereservoir 2 into the chamber 9, automatically unseating the valve 11.When the pressure in the chamber 9 reaches the predetermined degree, theplunger 13 will operate and through the lever 15 close the valve 11 andshut off further ingress of air from the reservoir into the chamber 9.The difierence in pressure between the reservoir 2 and the chamber 9Will depend, primarily, upon the diiference in superficial area of theparts 11 and 13, also upon the position of the weight 17 and the pointsof contact of the stems of the parts 11 and 13 with the said weightedlever. It is presumed that the stems of the parts 11 and 13 will beconnected with the lever at points equidistant from the fulcrum of thesaid lever. Hence no advantage results from difierence of leverage,andby dispensing with the weight 17 the difference of pressure between thereservoir and chamber will depend solely upon the difference in area ofthe valve 11 and plunger 13. By weighting the long arm of the lever 15the effective pressure of air in the chamber 9 can be increased asrequired for any particular purpose. The air under pressure passes fromthe chamber 9 to the pump 5 and is the agent for actuating said pump tolift the water and supply it to the service-pipe 6. When the pressure inthe service-pipe about equalizes the pressure of air in the chamber 9,the pump ceases operation, and when the pressure in the servicepipe isdiminished, as when opening any one of the faucets 7 to draw oif water,the pump immediately begins to operate, thereby recharging theservice-pipe and maintaining the requisite pressure therein necessary toprovide for a continuous flow of water through the open faucet. When thepressure within the chamber 9 falls below a given point, the valve 11will open by the superior pressure of air from the reservoir 2, therebyenabling the chamber 9 to be replenished. It will thus be seen that thesystem or apparatus is en tirely automatic in its action, it beingnecessary only to keep the reservoir 2 charged with air, which can beefiected by operating the air compressor or pump 1 at desired intervals.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Anapparatus or system for elevating and distributing water, the sameconsisting of a service-pipe provided with faucets at desired points, apump for lifting the water and charging the service-pipe, acompressed-air reservoir, means for charging said reservoir with airunder pressure, and a pressure-reducing means between the compressed-airreservoir and the said pump, substantially as set forth.

2. In a system or apparatus for elevating and distributing water bymeans of a servicepipe, a pump for effecting and charging the servicepipe, a compressed air reservoir, means for charging said reservoir withair under pressure, a chamber in communication at opposite ends with,respectively, said reservoir and pump, a valve located in the connectionbetween the chamber and reservoir and opening with the pressure fromsaid reservoir and means operatively connected with the valve andcontrolled by the pressure of air within the said chambertoautomatically reduce the effective pressure for actuating the pump,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABNER D. STRONG. n s] \Vitnesses:

L. H. MEANS, W. C. BAIRD.

